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CQL?MBT?;F.trl
Wednesday Morning! June 0,1875.
??- B ? -w.
Tho War Cloud In England. '
The problem in European affairs just
now sooms to bo whether France is arm?
ing for another war with Germany, in
the hope of restoring her lost military
prestige, or Germany is seizing upon the
efforts of France to restore her army to
its ordinary footing, us a pretext for an?
other wnr to be inaugurated for the pur?
pose of completely subjugating the
Frcnob. Many of the official statements
that come to us'have the air of diplomatic
untruthfuluess, while the rumors that
are caught up by travelers and occasional
correspondents, aroptob&bly unreliable
by reason.of their being tho expression
of individual' private opinion within a
very limited circle. Tho Louisville
Courier-Journal thinks nothing is more
natural than tbat,tho hot-blooded young
soldiers of France, lounging in the cafe
or sauntering along the boulevards,
should loudly proclaim their desire to
wipe off the stain .upon the French army.
Nothing is more natural than that un
military tourists, not familiar with tho
spectacle of military organization, should
mistake repair for construction, remodel?
ing for development. And nothing,.
Again, is more natural than that tho ru?
mors of these sights and sounds should
occasion gossip in the outside world, and
cause suspicion among the people of
Germany. But of all gossip, the gossip
of impending war is the least trustwor?
thy, simply for the reasons that causes of
complaint are subjects of confidential
communications between governments,
and the methods of war demand secrecy
in its preparation. This secrecy extends
oven to collateral correspondence, as was
illustrated in the British House of Lords
last Monday, when the curiosity of tho
Eublio culminated in a resolution offered
y Earl Russell, asking that the corres?
pondence between Great Britain and tho
continental powers, arising out of the
recent war alarm; should be laid before
the House. In response, the Earl of
Derby, Minister of Btate for the Foreign
Department, replied that he sympathized
with tho curiosity of those who had
watched the course of foreign affairs dur?
ing the lost few weekR, but it would be
impossible to give a fair account, with?
out largely using confidential communi?
cations relating to the policy and opinions
of othor governments, who would object
to such disclosures. > This declination of
the British Government to furnish the
House of Lords with authenticated in?
formation on the subject would seem to
leave little for reliable information from
private sources. But the next day an
unsigned letter in the London Times de?
clared that-a few-weeks ago the German
representatives at the various European
courts officially complained that France
was arming with a view to the early re?
sumption < of war, and that General
Von Schweinitz, the German Minister in
Vienna, had stated it was only owing to
Germany's long suffering that war had
not yet broken out. t This statement
was, in a measure, corroborated by Lord
Derby's remarks. on the previous even?
ing; for after'^declining to produce the
official correspondence, he stated that
ftorsons highest in authority in Berlin of
ate openly declared that the French
army had become a source of danger to
Germany, because its magnitude showed
a determination on the part of France to
renew tho war; that Germany in self-de?
fence might feel impelled to strike the
first blow to socure;peace,and that it was
necessary that thOiiSrenoh army should
be considerably, Seduced. 4 If these re
Eorts had not official shape, they at least
ear the impress of German sanction.
They seem to have been thrown by
Germany into the current of war gossip
to elicit expression of opinion. Thoy
are not authoritative because they are
rumors, but, as repeated by Lord Derby,
they show v/bat la, or may be, the atti?
tude of Germany, and Lord.Derby said
they hadj pfc$&p' oxtronie uneasiness: in
France.* Kubl situation as thus semi?
officially revealed to tho House of Lords
presents the question whether Germany
or France is seoking war. Whatever
disinclination the British Government
may have to making an official revelation
of the actual situation, it seems to have
no hesitation in exposing its opinions on
the situation inferred from the rumors
repeated by its Foreign Ministor. Lord
Derby declared to the Lords that ho
accepted as entirely sincere the disclaim?
er of the French Government of all
warlike intentions. He believed no
statesman in France contemplated a re?
newal of tho war, and in behalf of
Franco he said that naturally, after her
humiliation, she desired to have un army
which wonld give her tho influence to
which she considered herself entitled,
and that the French Government was
unable to conceive that German appre?
hensions were genuine. La a word,
while attributing the sentiment to the
French, Lord Derby made it quito appa?
rent that it is-the opinion of the Go?
vernment of Great ^Britain that the rep?
resentations ascribed to Germany could
be interpreted only as a pretext for war.
The force of this opinion is, however,
somewhat impaired by the fact that in
the Franco-German controversy Great
Britain leans toward France, not that
sho has forgotten her old scores with tho
Frenoh, but that she has present appre?
hensions of Germany. ? Her Majosty's
Government perceived in tho existence
of this mutual distrust between France
and Gorniany a good opportunity to
offer the friendly offices of England,
and the Russian Government, which
wtfrllff,Wl,WWftf' that" GernRn,y'^a,,|
France should give their exclusive at?
tention to watching each other for the
remainder of the present century, rather
than that ono should triumph over the
other and than bo ready to survey the
field of Europe, waa quite willing to co?
operate with England in her benevolent
design. Ixjrd Derby is not willing to
tell all he knows, because "the causes of
dispute are liable to recur." Neither is
he willing to tell what England might
! dc when she has exhausted hor friendly
offices. But, while he takes occasion to
renew to all the parties interested the
assurances of his most distinguished
consideration, ho significantly remarks
in reference to tho liability to recurrence
of the causes of dispute, that'Eriglond's
policy of non-intervention doos not
mean isolation or indifference to the
peace of Europe.
?-??-?
l Re-Union of tile Hampton Legion?
I Artillery, Infantry and Cavalry.?Mr.
Frank E. Taylor, Secretary, 1ms fur?
nished us with a copy of the following
circular, which wo publish for the benofit
of thoso interested :
At a mooting of the Hampton Legion
Survivors, held in the citv of Charleston,
S. C, February 24, 1875, Gen. James
Conner presiding, it was unanimously
Resolved, That a re-union of the Le?
gion be held in tho city of Columbia, S.
C. , on tho fourteenth anniversary of the
first battle of Manassas, tho 21st of July
next.
The undersigned wero then appointed
a committee to forward a circular to all
surviving members of the Legion, and
to make the other necessary arrangements
for the re-Union. Tho objects of the
re-union will be: 1. To collect tho neces?
sary records for compiling a complete
history of that command And its off?
shoots, from its organization in 1661 to
tho close of the war, in April, 1865; and
with this view, officers and men are
earnestly requested to preparo complete
rolls of their companies, with full lists
of the killed and wounded in all the en?
gagements in which , tho Legion and its
members took part; also, of thoso who
died from disease; and to furnish copies
of all official reports or other documents,
concerning the Legion, that they may be
able to obtain. 2. To take tho initiative
steps towards erecting a suitable monu?
ment to aU our dead. 3. To form an
association for the purpose of carrying
out the ends above indicated.
Lieutenant-General "Wade Hampton
will preside. Gen. F. M. Logan will de?
liver an oration. Addresses may bo ex?
pected from other prominent officers,
who were officers of tho old command.
The oommittee consists of Theo. G.
Barker, Field and Staff; F. L. Parker, M.
D. , Field and Staff; Jas. McElroy, Com?
pany A, Infantry; G. T. Whilden, Com?
pany A, Infantry; T. S. Ihglesby, Com?
pany A, Infantry; C. P. Poppenheim,
Company A, Infantry; S. E. Welch, Com?
pany H, Infantry; Jos. Simons, Bach
man's Battery; Rudolph Siegling, Bach
man's Battery; E. L. Halsoy, Hart's Bat?
tery; Louis Sherfesce, Hart's Battery;
John S. Fairly, Beaufort District Troop;
W. B.' Bull, Beaufort District Troop;
Rev. O. F. Gregory, Company H, Infan?
try. JAMES CONNER, Chairman.
Frank E. Taylor, Secretary.
The First Report.?Mr. J. M. Craw?
ford has exhibited to us a bundle of
oats, grown from some of the seed
furnished by Senator Robertson, from
the Agricultural Department at Wash?
ington, last fall. Mr. C. planted in
rows ten inches wide, dropped one seod
in the hiU, six inches apart; plowed
with a bull-tongue twice and hoed twice.
From a quart of the seed cats he will
make at least three bushels?about forty
bushels per acre. The sample has been
greatly admired by all who have seen
it ?it is considered the finest ever raised
in this section.- ?'? * ?
Tho Washington Republican is in a
very bad humor with the hotel-keepers
of that City, because they 'allow Spotted
Tail and his select company of savages to
sit at the table with white people. These
red brethren are undeniably a little
dirty, a little uncouth and ill-mannered,
but thoy are "brethren," nevertheless, if
their skins are red. Why should the
Radical Republican have such an antipa?
thy to color and even dirt? It is really
depressing to observe it, after all the les?
sons of equality that paper has given its
readers.
The Indian negotiations at Washing?
ton will result, probably, in the vacation
of the Nebraska hunting district by the j
Sioux, without the oxpendituro by the
Government of the $25,000, which they
refuse to take until they con go home
and consult with tho tribe. The Shcr
man-Augur treaty of 1868 cedes the Ne?
braska district to them as long as buffalo
are to be found there, and tho Govorn
| ment, it is said, can prove by admission
of tho Indians themselves that buffalo
are rarely seen there. Tho trip of the
Indians to Washington has been both
expensive and useless.
Hotel Arhivals, June 8, 1865.?.Mm
shn Jlouse?J. M. Brown, Md.; R. M.
Davis, S. C.; Lovi Slnwson, Orangeburg;
N. A. Peay, Fairfleld; J. It. Slawson,
city; J. L. Rlack, S. C.
Hendtix House?R. W. Steele, Augusta;
E. J. Gage, Charleston; W. M. Crook
shanks, Atlanta; J. D. Witherspoon,
York; J. W. Coi l or, city.
' TjEtteb fbom Ms. Jeiteebok Davis.?
The St. Louis Times publishes the fol?
lowing letter from Mr. Jefforson Davis,
addressed to Col. W. F. Mellen, a former
Confederate officer,' in wbioh he repels
with warmth the. broad intimation con?
tained in Gen. Sherman's "Memoirs,"
that he (Davis) was connected with the
plot which resulted In the assassination
of President Lincoln; whilst the story
that when captured ho "was traveling
with wagon transportation and had a
few thousand dollars of specie in a
valise." is thoroughly exploded. Acting
on the principle that blows should be
given as well as received, Mr. Davis
administers a severe castigation to Gen.
Sherman, charging him with a Violation
of ihe terms of surrender accorded to
Gen. Johnston, and with the display of
an ineradicable malignity:
Memphis, Tens., May 27, 1H7?.?My
Dear Sir: Please accept my thanks for
your kind letter of the 19th instant, and
the accompanying copy of a St. Louis
paper, containing an extract from the
forthcoming work of Gen. W. T. Sher?
man. My absence delayed the receipt
of your letter and this reply to it. The
malice that seeks to revive the nefari?
ously concocted and long since exploded
slander which connected my name with
the assassination of President Lincoln,
is quite in character with the man who
so conducted his invasion of the South
as to render "Sherman's bummers" the
synonym of pillage, arson, cruelty to
the helpless and murder of non-com- J
batants, and who closed his career of
arson with a false accusation against
Gen. Hampton in regard to the burning
of Columbia, South Carolina. But the
question arises, why did Gen. Sherman,
at the date of his reported conversation
with Gen. J. E. Johnston, suppose me
capable of complicity in the assassina?
tion of President Lincoln?
General Sherman never was personally
acquainted with me, and from those who
knew me, cither in the X'nited States
army or in civil life, surely learned no?
thing to justify such suspicion. In the
conduct of the war between the States,
despite of many baseless accusations, wo
can proudly point to a record which
shows a strict adherence to the usages of
war between civilized nations. On what,
then, did the suspicion of Gen. Sherman
rest? Was it not that, proceeding on the
rule of judging others by oneself, he
ascribed to mo the murderous and mali?
cious traits of his own nature?
He reports a conversation with Presi?
dent Lincoln, from wdiich is to be in?
ferred a desire to have authority for de?
parting from the course which, as a sol?
dier, he must huvc known was usual and
Eroper towards prisoners of war. Did
e hope to get instructions for the
slaughter of tho Confederacy's President
and cabinet officers, as set forth in the
orders of Col. Dahleren, when he made
his raid against Richmond? If the good
natured, characteristic reply of President
Lincoln taught him that murder was
not the approved measure, it seems to
have failed to inspire him with the gene?
rosity and charity which is ever found
in noble minds, or with the chivalry
which ever adorns the character of the
true soldier and gentleman.
Among tho articles of the surrender of
General J. E. Johnston, there was one
prohibiting military expeditions in the
country East of the Chatuihoochie River.
That was the best consideration obtained
for the surrender of armies, nrms, niuni
i tions and manufactories in that section,
nnd it was in violation of that article
I that the brigade of cavalry, by which I
was captured, was scouring the country
And freely taking from the unprotected
people the little which was left to them
for their future subsistence. From the
statement of Gen. Sherman, we learn
that a story had been told, to the effect
that I was carrying in wagons millions
of specie to tho South, and, therefore,
we ore left to conclude, was made that
expedition in violation of the ngroement
of surrender. Though the story of the
millions of specie is now admitted by
Gen. Shermaa to have been a fiction, the
admission is made in such terms as
would load the reader to suppose I had
been traveling with wagon transporta?
tion, and had a few thousand dollars of
specie in a valise. But neither supposi?
tion would ho true. I had recently
joined the wagon train, and was about to
leave it when captured; my only baggage
was a valiso, which was packed on a
mule, and it contained no specie. The
few thousand dollars of specie were in a
pair of saddle-bags belonging to Secre?
tary Reagan. Whether that money ever
reached the United States Treasury, Mr.
Reagan, from whom it was taken, may
be able to learn after he shall have as?
sumed his functions as a Regresentutive
in the United States Congress.
Should the course of the commanding
gonoral of the army, in attempting at
this late day to resuscitato a defunct
slander against tho President of tho late
Confederacy, nnd to wdiich slander not
even suborned witnesses could give the
semblance of truth, bo taken us tho ex?
ponent of tho feeling of the army, that
arm of tho General Government would
seem to bo ill-suited to the task, of late
so largely assigned to it, of preserving
oivil order and of restoring harmony
among tho people of the United States.
For public considerations it is to he
hoped that tho ineradicable malignity of
Sherman may bo an excoption to the
Srovailing sentiment;; of tho United
tates army. Again thanking you for
your friendly consideration, I am very
truly yours, JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Gon. Augur, of the United States
army, who lias been making a tour of
inspection through Louisiana, expresses
himself as much gratified with the con?
dition of affairs throughout the State.
Crrr Mattfrs.?Where, oh! where, is
the diamond breast-pin?..
Strawberries are playing oat. arid black?
berries playing in.
Old Sol- is above the horizon now for
fourteen hours and sixteen minutes, giv?
ing daylight for sixteen hours.
The weather, Monday night and yes?
terday morning, was chilly, and extra
covering was necessary for comfort.
The bed-room of Mrs. S. B. Peck, on
II ich I und street, was entered a few nights
ago, and a gold watch carried off.
And now for the missing diamond und
cross. Will the citizens be forced to
take up tbnt matter? It begins to look
so.
Give a man a light heart, a white hat
and a new suit of linen, and for a day he
is above the cares and depressions of this
world.
The early closing movement is becom?
ing popular, and very few business
houses are now op on after 7 o'clock in
the evening.
Main street was thronged with people,
yesterday afternoon, bnt whether for
business or promenade, it is bard to say
?more than likely the latter.
The Augusta Chronicle, we thought,
was aware that this is the era of wonder?
ful performances. The cutting off the
remaining arm by an old Napoleonic
soldier is one of these feats. Perhaps he
will intimate that "it can't be did." The
Phoenix agrees with him. The subject
was discussed at longth, however, by
some of our citizens. Another query ex?
cited discussion, whether or not n man
could marry his widow's sister.
? ? m
The Cm Finances?Per Coktra. ? "At
the request of a number of influential
Republicans," another meeting of citi?
zens was held, last evening?the Court
House being designated; but as that
building could not be obtained, Parker's
Hall was occupied. General Stoibrand,
Chairman of the Council Committee, was
appointed Chairman of the meeting, and
Messrs. Bichard Jones and W. B. Jones
(the present and the former Clerks) Sec?
retaries.
The hall was about half full?the ma?
jority of tho assemblage being colored
citizens. Alderman Pugh asserted that,
as many citizens were not allowed to ex?
press their views at the citizens' meeting,
on Monday, he hoped such would not be
the case here. Alderman Carroll contra?
dicted the statement, and said that all
had an opportunity of freely expressing
their views. Several points of order were
then raised, which were ruled down by
the Chairman, and the following report
was read and adopted:
To the Committee of Twenty appointed hu
His Honor th? Manor and the Honorable
the ("ity Council of Columbia?Gentlemen:
Your Sub-Committee of Five, after inves?
tigating the books, records and other pa?
pers belonging to the city, beg leave to
present the following report:
Beginning with the 18th day of April,
18(55, we lind for the period terminating
with the month of June, 1808, that the
receipts and expenditures cannot be veri?
fied in any satisfactory manner, for the
want of vouchers which arc not to be
found. This part, therefore, of the city
accounts, must be taken on trust. From
the books, vouchers and papers of subse?
quent administrations, we have ascer?
tained that on April 1, 1870, tho bonded
debt amounted to $344,000; interest un?
paid for previous years, $70,000; city
currency f outstanding, (circulation.)
$20,000; miscellaneous debts unpaid,
(circulation,) $15,000-$449,000. City
administration inaugurated April 1,1870.
Taxes for said year Cotlecteu-pnd Spent
previously by Ute out-going Council?Neto
Administration Tiorroics Money for its first
year's Current Expenses.?At this date,
(1st April, 18?0,) the firs^ term of the pre?
sent Mavor began. It was found that
the bulk, if not all, the taxes for 1870
had been already collected and the
money disposed of and spent, in addi?
tion to $5,000 obtained by out-going
Council for 2,500 shares Greenville and
Columbia Bailroad stock. The in-com?
ing government was reduced to the ne?
cessity of borrowing money for defraying
current expenses.
Payment of non-bonded City Hebt con?
tracted prior to March 31, 1870.- The ad?
ministration of 1870 and its successors
have satisfied or paid debts and liabili?
ties against the city incurred prior to
March 31, 1870, * of the following
amounts: Interest on public debt due,
$70,000; outstanding city currency, (cir?
culation,) $20,000; miscellaneous debts,
$15,000; for provisions furnished in 1865,
(Joe Crews,) $11,108. $116,108.
dispenses for Permanent Improvements.
Some of the larger outlays for permanent
improvements are as follows:
Erection of City Hall, $67,971; pur?
chase of water pipo, $22,000; now alms
house, city hospital, bell tower, engine
houses, city bell, new market, $14,000;
two steam tire engines, street lamps and
posts, $6,000; compiling, printing, Ac.,
city ordinances, $1,500; total, $111,110.
The aggregate paid as abovo ($116,108)
and the permanent improvomonts($lll,
410) foot up tho sum of $227,548.
Assuming tho present indebtedness,
bonded and otherwise, as amounting to
$626,752, and deducting therefrom tho
above mentioned $227,548, paid out
liquidating old debts and for permanent
improvements, leaves $399,202 as the
present debt, had tho moneys been used
for nothing but running exponses,
ordinarily so-called, of the city.
Tho Committee presents these state
merits simply to show how the finances
Would have appeared at thin date, bad
no debts been Incurred prior to April 1,
1870, nnd if no permanent improvements
had been ordered or undertaken by the
city administration after said date.
Large Outlays to Indigent Poor.?The
expenses found upon the books for indi?
gent poor were startling to your Com?
mittee. Upon close scrutiny, however,
it was found that these outlays were
caused by the large number of people
who, terror-stricken during the great ex
citoment in the up-country, flocked to
and arrived in the city in a helpless and
destitute condition. The excitement
having been allayed, these people hava
gone back to their former homes and the
City Council has altogether discontinued
the said expenditures.
We record with pleasure that the alms
house expenses of current year, under
rigid economy, have beeu brought down
to about one-half of last year's figures.
Summing up our report, your Com?
mittee feel called upon to state, as their
opinion, that, whilst closer economy in
the use of the means of the city could
and should have been observed and en?
forced in former years, and as we per?
ceive it is now, at least in some of tho
departments, being observed and en?
forced, we have failed to detect in any
instance unlawful or dishonest use or
appropriation of the funds or other
means of the citv.
C. J. STOLBBAND,
Chairman Committee of Twenty.
After the reading of the report, Alder?
man Purvis and others addressed the
meeting in defence of the present Coun?
cil.
L. C. Northrop, Esq., after a sharp
speech, in which he volunteered to de?
fend the City Council in any action
which may be brought against them,
offered the following preamble and reso?
lutions, which were unanimously adopt?
ed:
Whereas a committee to investigate our
municipal affairs, appointed by certain
citizens of Columbia, have made and
published a report, in which they allege
that "incoinpetency and dishonesty"
mark the management of our municipal
interests; and whereas ot a similar meet?
ing of citizens, called to consider this
report, certain resolutions were adopted
requesting the Mayor and Aldermen to
resign, and at the same time advising ?
the commencement of legal proceedings
against them; and whereas these meet?
ings represent a small minority of the
voting and tax-paying people of this
municipal corporation, while the wide?
spread publication of these matters tend
to the detriment of our public honor
and the injury of our public credit; and
whereas we are animated by an entire
devotion to the principle of a prompt
and proper accountability in our public
officers and a wise and economical dis?
charge of their public duties; therefore,
be it, ,
Resolved, That we deem it due to the
honor, reputation and interests of our
fair city, as well as to the character and
responsibility of those whom we have
elected to administer its public affairs,
that our Mayor and Common Council .
should tike such measures as they may
deem necessary, to investigate the report
of tho said Committee, as published in
the public press, and to examine, prove
and publish a verification, explanation
or denial of the charges and allegations
of the said report, as well as Co make
public a full nnd minute statement of
tho public debt of the city of Columbia.
Resolved, That while it is tho right of .
all classes of our people to have an
honest and faithful administration of our
municipal interests, ft is also the unde?
niably right of our public officials to
have fair play in accounting for their
stewardship, and that, until they shall
havo been fully and fairly board, they
are entitled to our confidence jn their
integrity, and shall have our warm and
cordial support in vindicating the honor
of our city, in protecting the welfare of
our pcoplo and in making straight their '
paths before the public eye.
Resolved, That we deprecate ail passion
and prejudice in asserting the. right and
redressing the wrong in all 'public af?
fairs, and respectfully ask a suspension -
of the public judgment until the facts
are clearly Bet. forth upon whioh the
honest verdict of the people may be ren?
dered.'
Ex-Alderman Carpenter, being called
upon, responded in a somewhat lengthy
speechi By this time, the hall was well
filled, and much interest was manifested
in the proceedings by tho assemblage.
Other speakers ventilated their ideas,
and at a late hour the meeting adjourned.
-? ? ?
If You Want It.?Everybody is pur^
chasing tho indelible transfer paper, and
a trial is only necessary to prove its
merits. A. H. Oliver, Clendining House,
is the agent, and will call on you.
-?- ?
TnE Citizens' Committee on Finance.
The following gentlemen have been ap?
pointed on the above committee:
E. J. Scott, Chairman; Dr. John
Fisher, C. Bouknigkt, E. W. Seibela,
John C. Seogers, E. W. Wheeler, P.
O'Neale, Jr., W. B. Nash, W. H. Gibbes,
W. Lowry, W. C. SwafBeld, J. H. Saw
ver, W. B. Gulick, W. B. Stanley, F. W.
McMastcr, W. K. Greenfield, J. P.
Southern, C. M. Wilder, C. F. Janney,
Wm. Wallace, Israel Smith, W. D. Love,
Dr. A. N. Talley, J. A. Hendrix, E. H.
Heinitsh.
SupnEMB Court Decision, June 5,
187?.?Ex parte Thomas C. Dunn, Comp
trollor-General of South Carolina, in re
Daniel Hand vs. the Savannah and
Charleston Bailrond Company ef aL
Judgment of Circuit Court dismissing
the petition reversed and petition re?
manded to Circuit Court.
List of New Aovebtisements.
Columbia Chapter, No. 5.
W. B. Burke?Hay, &c.